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Old 04-02-2008
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Plumper-

If he had tried waiting until daylight, the breakwater and buoys would have been pretty obvious... which wasn't the case at night. The chartplotter was perfectly reliable, but the electrical system failed... which is why I strongly advocate keeping up-to-date PAPER CHARTS aboard the boat.

You also might want to look at a chart of the area, since it is not as clear cut as you'd think.

http://www. charts .noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/13279.shtml



Quote:
Originally Posted by Plumper View Post
So the fact that it was night only played a small part in the event. It would be a whole different questions if someone asked:

"would you enter a strange harbour at night with a failing electrical system, an unreliable chart plotter and only an old beat up chart to navigate on?"

I'd have to say no unless there were some other circumstances that forced my hand.

Edit "and a shakey knowledge of the buoyage system."
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Sailingdog

Telstar 28
New England

You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.

—Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity (slightly edited)

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